Pass the Safe Medication Disposal Ordinance

Thanks in part to your support and advocacy, on Tuesday, July 24, 2012, the Alameda County Safe Drug Disposal Ordinance was adopted by unanimous vote of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors! The video of the hearing is now posted on the County’s website – agenda item #69.

This is the first ordinance in the country to require producers of pharmaceuticals to share in the responsibility and costs to safely dispose of unused medications from the public. Unfortunately, the pharmaceutical industry has offered no solution except to promote disposal of drugs in the trash, which poses public safety and environmental health hazards.

Every year, nearly 15,000 people in the United States die from overdoses involving prescription painkillers—more than those who die from heroin and cocaine combined. In 2010, 55% of pharmaceutical abusers relied on friends and relatives to obtain drugs.

Improper disposal of medications is a public health and safety issue. Unused medications in the home allow for drug abuse by children and teens. Flushing and throwing away medications can harm the environment and the water we drink.

“Pharmaceutical companies need to stop hiding from the issue of the overwhelming amount of unused and outdated medication products, and the cost of disposal currently being carried by the consumer. It's simply good business for them to work with their customers to promote better health.” - Pauline Von Stetten, Alameda County resident

“As it now stands pharmaceutical profits are privatized and cleanup costs are socialized. This ordinance corrects the imbalance and fairly re-assigns responsibilities.” - Kreigh Hampel, City of Burbank Public Works Department

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP

1. Sign the petition to pass the ordinance and have your friends, family and neighbors do the same!

Video produced by volunteers of the Alameda Medication Education Disposal Safety (MEDS) Coalition

This petition was delivered to:

Alameda County Supervisor, District 1Scott Haggerty

Alameda County Supervisor, District 2Richard Valle

Alameda County Supervisor, District 3Wilma Chan

1 more decision maker...

Alameda County Supervisor, District 5Keith Carson

Letter to

Alameda County Supervisor, District 1Scott Haggerty

Alameda County Supervisor, District 2Richard Valle

Alameda County Supervisor, District 3Wilma Chan

Alameda County Supervisor, District 5Keith Carson

Every year, nearly 15,000 people in the United States die from overdoses involving prescription painkillers—more than those who die from heroin and cocaine combined. In 2010, 55% of pharmaceutical abusers relied on friends and relatives to obtain drugs.

Improper disposal of medications is a public health and safety issue. Unused medications in the home allow for drug abuse by children and teens. Flushing and throwing away medications can harm the environment and the water we drink.